Workers compensation

In brief

Workplace rehabilitation services are usually delivered at the workplace, in consultation with all parties and may involve:

assessing a worker's capacity to perform duties safely

identifying duties that will support improvements in a worker’s capacity

identifying options to help reduce work demands (including providing advice on equipment, job or workplace modifications)

identifying and addressing risks that may impact a worker's recovery at/return to work outcome

implementing and monitoring a plan to achieve an agreed recovery at work goal

While it is usually the employer or insurer who makes the decision on which workplace rehabilitation provider will be used in each situation, a worker should be consulted on the decision and given the opportunity to refuse or request a change in provider.

The insurer is responsible for engaging the provider and paying for their services. Service costs are recorded as a claims cost.

service cost for each SIRA workers compensation payment classification code or AMA item number and service duration (if applicable)

date of invoice (must be on the day of or after last date of service listed on the invoice)

To prevent delays in payment, these details will need to be provided on all invoices.

Invoices should be submitted within 30 calendar days of the service being provided.

Send your invoices to the worker’s insurer.

Do I need a SIRA provider number?

Yes. Only organisations with a SIRA provider number and listed on the website are able to deliver workplace rehabilitation services in the workers compensation system

How do I get a SIRA provider number?

Submit an application to the jurisdiction in which approval is being sought, demonstrating how you will meet the Conditions of Approval. If the application is approved, the provider is granted a three-year Instrument of Approval (Certificate of Approval in NSW).

The NSW supplement to the guide outlines specific requirements for providers who wish to provide workplace rehabilitation services in NSW.

Meeting the Conditions of Approval

The main focus of the NSW workers compensation system is to support workers to recover at/return to work following a work related injury. So the primary measure for providers is the return to work rate following the provision of workplace rehabilitation services.

The minimum return to work rates that must be maintained by providers in order to maintain approval in NSW are:

same employer: 80%

different employer: 50%

We review the minimum return to work rates based on industry performance and regulatory priorities in consultation with the industry.

Following initial approval, you may be required to undergo an onsite evaluation 12 months after the application approval (initiated by us).

Then, during the three years of approval, you are required to undertake annual self-evaluations. You may also undergo a SIRA-initiated periodic evaluation and/or an exception evaluation by an independent evaluator.